Apparatus for sewing garment parts

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for joining and sewing garment parts together automatically by means holding the parts together after they are assembled, transferring them automatically to a sewing station where means accomplish the sewing operation while the holding means returns to the assembly station for the start of another operation.

United States Patent 1 1 Block Mar. 26, 1974 [5 APPARATUS FOR SEWING GARMENT 3.531.107 9/1970 Rovin et al. 112/121.11 x PARTS 3,477,398 ll/l969 Weigert 112/104 3,513,791 5/1970 Fulp 112/104 [75] Inventor: Charles Block, North Bellmore,

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee Gellm Industries, n New Y 1,148,712 4/1969 Great Britain 1 Ill/121.29

.Y. N Primary Examiner-James R. Boler Filed: June 15, 19 2 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bauer & Amer [21] Appl. No.: 262,995

[57] ABSTRACT 52 US. Cl. 112/121.15, 112/105 A method and apparatus for joining and sewing 51 1111. C1 D05b 21/00 ment parts together automatically y means holding [58 Field of Search 112/105, 121.11, 121.12, the parts together after y are assembled, transfer- 112/l21.15, 121.29, 104, 130, 262, 265 ring them automatically to a sewing station where means accomplish the sewing operation while the 5 References Ci d holding means returns to the assembly station for the start Of another operation.

3,008,436 11/1961 Golden 112/104 14 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures mtmmmzsm SHEEI t (If 4 m0 womDom APPARATUS FOR SEWING GARMENT PARTS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for joining and sewing garment parts and, in particular, for joining and sewing the hook or eye tabs on the strap panels of a brassiere.

The construction of such garments as brassieres, girdles, chemises, etc., is well known. It is conventional to provide fastening means for these articles which comprise hook and eye members. At least one type of these members is secured on a tab, which is either of elastic or unstretchable fabric, the tab being joined to the end of a panel member of the garment by conventional sewing processes, which are largely hand or manual fucntions requiring the operator to simultaneously handle the tab, the garment and manipulate the sewing machine, all at the same time. In addition to the tedium and difficulty in handling such articles on the part of the operator, the process is time consuming and, therefore, relatively costly. A further disadvantage lies in the fact that the operator frequently cannot hold the assembled tab and garment throughout the entire process, and particularly during the actual sewing when the material is close to the needle. As a result, many faulty garments are sewn and mistakes made, contributing to the overall cost of production.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a system which overcomes the difficulties and disadvantages of the prior art.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for sewing the parts of garments together which is semi-automatic and in which the operator is not required to hold the garments during actual sewing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus for the joining of garment parts which increases the speed at which the garments are finished, provides automatic means for holding the garments in place during sewing, provides automatic means for feeding at least one of the parts and generally provides an improved operation at savings in cost of production, etc.

It is a specific object of the present invention to provide a machine for the automatic sewing of parts together in which the operator is occupied only with a semi-manual loading of the machine.

It is a specific object to provide an improved method for sewing tabs on the strap panel of brassieres.

These objects, as well as others, together with numerous advantages will be seen in the following disclosure.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the present invention, a system for automatically sewing parts together on a machine having at least an assembly station and a sewing station is provided in which an endless stream of one part is fed to the assembly station to be united with other garment parts by the operator. Means are provided for grasping the assembled parts and for transferring the grasped parts without disturbance of their relative positions to the sewing station. The sewing station is provided with means for receiving the assembly from the grasping means and holding the assembly beneath a sewing instrument, while the grasping and transferring means returns to the assembly station ready for a succeeding assembly.

Preferably, the assembly station and the sewing station are aligned along a substantially horizontal table, and the transfer means comprises an elongated arm pivoted at its rear to move downwardly against the assembly on the table and slidable to move the assembly along the table. The grasping means have small sharp barbs which engage the material.

The garment parts are generally tab-like members, such as the hook and eye tabs for brassieres. Automatic means are provided for feeding the tabs, and for separating them before reaching the assembly station.

Preferably, the system is provided with interlocking control means, timing devices, linkages, etc., which enable sequential indexing and movement of the parts, the material and the operational function.

Full details of the present invention are given in the following specification and will be seen from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective an article after the same has been sewn by and according to the present method;

FIG. 2 is atop view enlarged of the article seen in FIG. 1 showing the stitch pattern and path of sewing;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the machine of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded view along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the relationship of the garment parts and the transfer mechanism;

FIGS. 5A, 58 through 8A, 8B are sequential views of the machine showing its various stages of operation, the A view of each Figure is in plan while the B view of each Figure is in side elevation, each view showing the comparable stage; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the pneumatic and electrical control system employed in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The present invention is designed to finish a brassiere or similar garment with hook or eye members in the form seen in FIG. 1. The brassiere is provided with a strap panel P on the end of which a tab T having two or more rows, each of which having one or more hook eyes H, are secured to it. The hook tabs T are supplied in an endless chain of individual units, connected in end-to-end relationship by one or more continuous threads. A small space separates each unit so that the chain may be folded or rolled and so that each unit may be easily separated from the other. Each tab T comprises a laminar construction of fabric into which the hooks H are stapled or sewn, having a pair of separated end flaps F which are adapted to be opened and into which the end of the brassiere strap panel P is to be inserted. The strap end, sandwiched between the flaps F, is sewn together along its edges and transversely along the edge of the flaps as indicated by the arrowed stitch marks S seen in FIG. 2.

Turning to FIG. 3, there is seen the present machine by which the process of finishing the garment as indicated above in a semi-automatic, continuous manner.

The machine comprises a flat horizontal table 10 in front of which the machine operator sits. To the left of the table is a feed station, generally depicted by the numeral 12, which is designed to feed the endless chain of tab units. To the right of the table 10 is a source (not seen) of semi-finished garments and the loading station generally depicted by the numeral 14, on which the operator places the end or strap panel P of the garment. Directly in front of the operator is an assembly station, generally depicted by the numeral 16, at which point the panel is inserted into the open flaps F of the lead tab. Above the assembly station is a transfer arm which is adapted to grasp the assembly of tab and garment and move the same on the table 10, in fixed position, to a sewing station aligned with the assembly station and generally depicted by the numeral 18, above which is mounted a sewing machine 20 of conventional form.

The tab feed station 12 comprises a bracket 22 on which are provided a pair of transversely spaced U- shaped guide rails 24 into which the chain of tabs is loaded, to form a substantially endless stream. A pressure finger 26 depends from a cross member 28 between the rails 24, into contact with the top of the tab, maintaining it in flat condition. Mounted above the guide rails is a horizontal pusher arm 30 having a vertical member 32 shaped to fit within the spaces between adjacent units of the chain of hook tapes. The pusher arm 30 is adapted to be driven by a cylinder 86 (FIG. 9) to index in a rectilinear path, schematically shown by the arrows A sequentially downwardly into the space between units, forwardly toward a separating station 36 then to the assembly station, pushing the leading tab unit first to a holding station 34 and then toward its associated garment panel. Subsequently, the pusher arm moves upwardly and rearwardly to the starting position. In this manner, the substantially endless chain of tab units are fed, one by one, being stretched out along their line of feed so that each unit is clearly defined from another.

interposed between the tab feed station 12 and the holding station 34 is a separating station 36 comprising a hot wire 38 mounted on a piston 40, set in a cylinder 42. The piston is vertically reciprocable along the path of the double arrows B by suitable, hydraulic electromechanical or other conventional means. The hot wire 38 is adapted to fit through a shaped slot 44 in the table 10, rising synchronously with the movement of the tab chain to sever the thread holding the leading tab unit to the end of the chain, after this leading tab is pushed by the pusher arm 32 into the waiting station. The waiting station also includes a pair of spaced guide rails 46 and 48 aligned with the guide rails 24 of the feed station. After the leading tab unit is severed from the chain, the pusher arm 32 pushes the unit into the assembly station before returning to its original starting position.

The table 10 is raised at the loading station 14 by an amount substantially equivalent to the thickness of the fabric in one of the flaps F of the tab unit. This may be accomplished by laminating the table or by cutting the left side of the table to undercut the portion at the feed station. In any event, the raised portion of the table provides a medial edge 50 at the assembly station up against which the leading edges of the flapped end of the tab unit are abutted, locating the tab at the desired position at the assembly station. In addition to the medial edge, the table is provided with a groove 51 or notch following the line of the medial edge into which the fabric may be pushed. At the front end of the media] edge 50 there is provided an air nozzle 52 which is adapted to blow a jet of air perpendicular to the table against the upper flap F to lift the upper flap, allowing insertion of the panel P by the operator. The lower flap of tab T has been cut away locally to allow the air to impinge on the upper flap only. This insertion is also facilitated by the raised platform which allows the operator to merely slide the garment panel on the table to the left following the arrow C.

Mounted above the assembly station is an L-shaped angular bracket 54 which is provided on its lower edge with a plurality of small barbs or claws 56 which are adapted to stake through the sandwich of flaps F and garment panel P. The corner of the L-shaped bracket is arranged to face the rear of the assembly station, with its long arm pointing forward and its only somewhat short arm facing, at a perpendicular direction, to the right. In this manner, the bracket 54 overlies the edge of flaps F as well as a portion of the rear edge of the garment panel. The clamp bracket 54 is resiliently held by spring loading at the end of a long operating lever 58 which extends rearwardly to the back end of the machine. The operating lever is cantilevered over the table and is pivotally hinged to move in plane perpendicular to the table, at its rear end in a slidable carriage 60, retained in U-shaped channel rail 62. The carriage 60 is attached to a piston-cylinder motor means 63 which is adapted to reciprocably move it, and the lever 58 which it carries forwardly and backwardly, in a plane parallel to the plane of the table along the path of the arrow D. Simultaneously, the lever 58 is connected to a second piston and cylinder 64, located above the rail 62 which is adapted to swing the lever upwardly and downwardly in the direction of arrow E perpendicular to the plane of the table. The front end of the long leg of the L-shaped bracket 54 is adapted to be manually depressed into the slot 66 of a housing 68 mounted on the table. Within the slot is located a sensing valve 70 which, when engaged by the bracket 54, activates the control means for operating the first 64 and second 63 cylinders which causes the lever 58 to remain depressed and to move backwardly carrying the assembled panel and tab from the assembly station 16 to the sewing station 18. The claw or barbs 56 enter the fabric, and the groove 51 lying below it serves to provide adequate space for-the barbs and the compressed fabric, and also to provide a direct line for movement from the assembly station to the sewing station.

At the sewing station 18, the table 10 is cut into a rectangular portion 72 which is mounted on a movable carriage so as to be bodily displaceable within the horizontal plane beneath the sewing machine 20. The rectangular table portion 72 is provided with a U-shaped needle hole 74, beneath which the thread bobbin and other sewing elements are located. The long side of the U-shaped hole is normally aligned with the medial edge 50. The U-shaped needle hole 74 conforms to the shape and form of stitch pattern S seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. The sewing machine 20, located above the sewing station, is provided with a generally rectangular plate presser foot 76 in which is cut a U-shaped hole 78 conforming to the needle hole 74. The presser foot also has a slot 80 to let lever 58 holding the clamp 54 pass through it. The presser foot 76 is lowered on to the assembled tab and garment panel, after its transfer to the sewing station, in order to clamp the fabric together and hold it in place for the sewing operation. The presser foot 76 and table portion 72 act in concert to move the assembled tab and panel in unison beneath the needle of the sewing machine, which needle makes the conventional zig-zag stitch through the conforming needle hole 74 and slot 78. This action is programmed by a conventional cam, not shown. The assembled garment is sewn beginning at one side edge through the transverse edge and the other side and then doubled back to make an overlapping zig-zag pattern as seen again in FIG. 2.

The semi-automatic continuous operation of the device will be seen from FIGS. 5 through 8, it being remembered that the B view is a side elevation of the device in the condition seen in the plan view of the A view. Initially, the machine is loaded with a substantially endless chain of hook tab units, the leading edge of which is manually fed to the separating station 36. Then by operating a by-pass valve 87, cylinder 86 and 92 cause the operation of pusher 30 and wire 38 to follow the previously described sequence until a tab T is delivered to the assembly station 16. A source of garments is supplied to the operators right hand. An air jet through nozzle 52 is in constant operation to open the flaps F of the tab unit and to enable the operator to insert the end of the garments strap panel between the flap with her right hand (FIG. 5). She, then, manually lowers the lever 58 which simultaneously enters its sequential cycle whereat it clamps the tab T and the assembled panel P to the table top and trips the sensor 70 in the housing 68. The remainder of the cycle operation of the machine is effected, completely automatically and without any assistance from the operator.

The sensing valve 70 activates in sequence the second piston cylinder 64 which maintains the lever 58 lowered and in clamped position on the assembled panel and tab and then the first piston-cylinder 63 which withdraws the entire lever 58 and the clamp bracket 54 toward the rear. The assembled garment is withdrawn directly rearward, on the medial edge 50 and comes to rest beneath the presser foot 76 directly over the needle hole (FIG. 7). The presser foot is then automatically lowered onto the garment and tab, and the clamp lever is automatically released and returned by operation of the cylinders 63 and 64 to its starting position (FIG. 8). Sewing then takes place, automatically. The table portion 72 and presser foot conjointly move in the rectilinear path seen in FIG. 6a by the arrows G. Meanwhile, the pusher arm 30 has placed a new tab unit in position at the holding station, where the hot wire 38 has severed the connected thread, and then pushed the unit to the assembly station. The operator most effectively assembles the tab and garment panel while the sewing machine is actually sewing the preceding garment. The operator may also depress the lever 58 during the sewing to set a new cycle going. The lever will grasp and hold the garment in fixed position until the full needle sewing cycle is completed; thereafter, the presser foot 76 raises, releasing the first garment which is ejected automatically into a collecting vessel. No sooner has the presser foot risen, then the lever 58 moves to the rear with a new assembly of tab and panel. Thus, there occurs no waiting, break or delay in the entire operation and the slowest operation is that of the needle cycle and certainly not that of the operator. Continuous, cyclical and repetitive operation can be thus effected.

FIG. 9 depicts schematically the relationship of the principal operating components. After the operator has inserted panel P between the flaps on tab T, he depresses the long lever 58. The outstanding end of bracket 54 contacts sensing valve which puts a signal through a sequencing unit 84 to apply pressure to cylinder 64. The sequencing unit is comprised of an array of multi-port valves, delay chokes, shuttle valves and control devices arranged and interconnected to provide the necessary interplay and timing for the various operating components. In like manner, a sensing valve 85 is triggered by depressing the foot pedal 82. When bracket 54 is held in its bottommost position, teeth 56 have engaged the tab and panel assembly. The sequencing unit 84 now signals pressure to cylinder 63 and carriage 60 moves to its rearmost position. Work pieces (panel and tab) move from assembly station 16 to sewing station 18.

As carriage 60 moves, it trips a first sensing valve which, in turn, signals the sequencing unit to initiate the tab T loading and cutting sequence. The cylinder 86 receives fluid pressure to lower the pusher arm 30 to cause the member 32 to engage the tab T. Tab feed cylinder 86 then receives a first signal to advance the tab to the separating position 36. Hot wire cylinder 42 is then signalled to raise the hot wire 38 to shearing position where connecting threads between tabs are sheared. Fluid pressure in cylinder 42 is then released and hot wire 38 is retracted. The tab feed cylinder 86 then receives a second signal to advance carrying the separated tab to the assembly station 16. Pusher arm 30 is then caused to raise and the tab feed cylinder 86 is signalled to return to the start position of the tab load ing and cutting sequence.

As carriage 60 continues to move to the rear, it trips a second sensing valve 94. The sequencing unit 84 receives this signal and initiates fluid pressure to the start cylinder 96. The start cylinder 96 activates the sewing sequence, when the foot 76 and plate 72 carry the work tab and panel under the needle through the stitching pattern. As the start cylinder goes through its initial advance, it triggers a sensing valve 98 and via the sequencing unit 84 opens a fluid dump valve 100 which allows a foot 76 onto the work. At this point, the sequencing unit 84 retracts cylinder 64 raising bracket 54 and advances carriage 60 to the assembly station 16 where arm 58 remains in the ready" position for the next cycle.

The unconventional programmed sewing drive includes a cam 104 which trips an air valve 106 which pulses a knife cylinder 108. The knife is part of foot 76 and serves to cut the sewing thread from the finished work. At this point, the sequencing unit 84 sends pressure to foot lift cylinder 102 and foot 76 raises from the work. Air blast 110 from the sequencing unit 84 causes the stitched assembly to be ejected from the sewing station 18.

The operator meanwhile has placed another panel P into position 16 within the tab flaps F and is ready to commence the cycle, once again.

Under normal conditions, switch 70 is operated by the lowering of the lever 58. Thereafter, the apparatus operates automatically to complete the sequences of its cycle. However, in practice it has been found necessary to provide the operator, more particularly novice operators, with means to interrupt the normal automatic cyclical operation. Thus, the addition of the foot pedal 82 interposed in the circuit of the switch 70 at the sequencing unit 84 will enable the operator to selectively interrupt the sequencing operation of the pistoncylinder 63. This permits the operator to selectively control and interrupt the automatic operation of the apparatus at any time simply by the pressing of the foot pedal.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for sewing garment parts in a continuous semi-automatic manner, comprising at least an assembly station and a sewing station,

means for feeding an endless stream of first parts to said assembly station whereat said first parts may be assembled with a second part,

transfer means for grasping and moving said assembly in unison from said assembly station to said sewing station,

means at said sewing station for sewing said assembly together,

said sewing station having means for holding said assembly in fixed relative position during sewing, said transfer means being returnable to its initial position during said sewing, said assembly station and said sewing station being aligned along a common axis on a work table,

said transfer means comprising a bracket having claw members along its bottom edge adapted to grasp said assembly, said bracket being mounted on a lever,

said lever being pivotal to cause said bracket to move against said assembly and press the same to said table and reciprocably parallel to the common axis between said assembly station and said sewing station and said lever is manually depressible and is provided with means for maintaining the same depressed during the transfer movement.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including switch means activated by the depression of said lever to actuate the reciprocal movement of the lever and the sequential operation of the sewing means.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid holding means at said sewing assembly comprises a table and a presser foot adapted to engage said assembly on opposite sides thereof.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said table and said presser'foot are movable conjointly in parallel planes beneath said sewing means to effect sewing of the assembly in a predefined path.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first parts are arranged in spaced relationship in an endless chain and the means for feeding said first parts comprises a rail for holding said stream in an elongated position, I

pusher means for entering into the space between the leading and following first parts in said stream,

and means for indexing said pusher means towards said assembly station via a holding station, said feed means including means for separating the lead tab from said chain.

6. An apparatus for sewing garment parts in a continuous semi-automatic manner, comprising at least an assembly station and a sewing station,

means for feeding an endless stream of first parts to said assembly station whereat said first parts may be assembled with a second part,

transfer means for grasping and moving said assembly in unison from said assembly station to said sewing station,

means at said sewing station for sewing said assembly together,

said sewing station having means for holding said assembly in fixed relative position during sewing,

said transfer means being returnable to its initial position during said sewing,

wherein said first parts are provided with a pair of overlying flaps into which said garment is inserted,

said assembly station includes means for directing an air stream between said flaps to separate the same.

7. In an apparatus for sewing tabs to panels comprising a work table having at least an assembly station at which said panel and tab are temporarily united and a sewing station at which said united tab and panel are sewn together,

a transfer device comprising an elongated arm having means at one end for grasping said united tab and panel,

said arm being pivotably mounted in a slidable carriage to move in a plane perpendicular to said table,

said carriage being mounted to move in a plane parallel to said table whereby said lever may be selectively moved to transfer said united tab and garment from the assembly to the sewing station,

and said sewing station having means to hold the united tab and panel after the same have been transferred to the sewing station and to hold the same united during sewing.

8. In an apparatus for sewing according to claim 7 including piston and cylinder means for effecting movement of said arm between first and second positions which cooperatively define the path of transfer.

9. In an apparatus for sewing according to claim 7 wherein said means for grasping said united tab and garment comprise an angular member having pointed barbs at its lower edge adapted to enter into said united tab and garment,

said arm being adapted to slide the same along said table.

10. In an apparatus for sewing according to claim 7 including means for moving said arm in a sequential cycle relative to the operation at said assembly and sewing stations.

11. An apparatus for continuously sewing garment parts together comprising a table defining an assembly station for placing first and second garment parts in contact with each other and a sewing station spaced therefrom for joining said parts together,

said sewing station including a holding device for maintaining said parts in contact with each other during the joining thereof,

a transfer mechanism comprising an arm and a carriage,

said arm being pivotally mounted at one end on said carriage to move vertically into and out of engagement with said garment parts,

said carriage being slidably mounted to reciprocate 12. The apparatus according to claim 11 including first fluid means for operating said holding device at said sewing station,

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 including a fourth fluid switch valve operable on the grasping of along said table to carry said arm between said as- 10 said garment parts by said holding means to initiate sembly and said sewing station,

first fluid means for raising and lowering said arm and second fluid means for moving said carriage,

and fluid control means for cyclically operating said first and second fluid means including a first fluid valve switch operable on depression of said arm above said assembly station to simultaneously activate said first fluid means to maintain said arm depressed in contact with said garment parts and to activate said second fluid means to cause said carriage to carry said arm from said assembly station to said sewing station and a second fluid valve switch operable on the said arm reaching said sewing station to cause said first fluid means to raise said arm engaging said garment parts and cause said second fluid means to move said carriage to return said arm to said assembly station.

joining of said parts by sewing.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 including means for feeding a continuous stream of individual first parts to said assembly station,

said assembly station. 

1. An apparatus for sewing garment parts in a continuous semiautomatic manner, comprising at least an assembly station and a sewing station, means for feeding an endless stream of first parts to said assembly station whereat said first parts may be assembled with a second part, transfer means for grasping and moving said assembly in unison from said assembly station to said sewing station, means at said sewing station for sewing said assembly together, said sewing station having means for holding said assembly in fixed relative position during sewing, said transfer means being returnable to its initial position during said sewing, said assembly station and said sewing station being aligned along a common axis on a work table, said transfer means comprising a bracket having claw members along its bottom edge adapted to grasp said assembly, said bracket being mounted on a lever, said lever being pivotal to cause said bracket to move against said assembly and press the same to said table and reciprocably parallel to the common axis between said assembly station and said sewing station and said lever is manually depressible and is provided with means for maintaining the same depressed during the transfer movement.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 including switch means activated by the depression of said lever to actuate the reciprocal movement of the lever and the sequential operation of the sewing means.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said holding means at said sewing assembly comprises a table and a presser foot adapted to engage said assembly on opposite sides thereof.
 4. The apparaTus according to claim 3 wherein said table and said presser foot are movable conjointly in parallel planes beneath said sewing means to effect sewing of the assembly in a predefined path.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first parts are arranged in spaced relationship in an endless chain and the means for feeding said first parts comprises a rail for holding said stream in an elongated position, pusher means for entering into the space between the leading and following first parts in said stream, and means for indexing said pusher means towards said assembly station via a holding station, said feed means including means for separating the lead tab from said chain.
 6. An apparatus for sewing garment parts in a continuous semi-automatic manner, comprising at least an assembly station and a sewing station, means for feeding an endless stream of first parts to said assembly station whereat said first parts may be assembled with a second part, transfer means for grasping and moving said assembly in unison from said assembly station to said sewing station, means at said sewing station for sewing said assembly together, said sewing station having means for holding said assembly in fixed relative position during sewing, said transfer means being returnable to its initial position during said sewing, wherein said first parts are provided with a pair of overlying flaps into which said garment is inserted, said assembly station includes means for directing an air stream between said flaps to separate the same.
 7. In an apparatus for sewing tabs to panels comprising a work table having at least an assembly station at which said panel and tab are temporarily united and a sewing station at which said united tab and panel are sewn together, a transfer device comprising an elongated arm having means at one end for grasping said united tab and panel, said arm being pivotably mounted in a slidable carriage to move in a plane perpendicular to said table, said carriage being mounted to move in a plane parallel to said table whereby said lever may be selectively moved to transfer said united tab and garment from the assembly to the sewing station, and said sewing station having means to hold the united tab and panel after the same have been transferred to the sewing station and to hold the same united during sewing.
 8. In an apparatus for sewing according to claim 7 including piston and cylinder means for effecting movement of said arm between first and second positions which cooperatively define the path of transfer.
 9. In an apparatus for sewing according to claim 7 wherein said means for grasping said united tab and garment comprise an angular member having pointed barbs at its lower edge adapted to enter into said united tab and garment, said arm being adapted to slide the same along said table.
 10. In an apparatus for sewing according to claim 7 including means for moving said arm in a sequential cycle relative to the operation at said assembly and sewing stations.
 11. An apparatus for continuously sewing garment parts together comprising a table defining an assembly station for placing first and second garment parts in contact with each other and a sewing station spaced therefrom for joining said parts together, said sewing station including a holding device for maintaining said parts in contact with each other during the joining thereof, a transfer mechanism comprising an arm and a carriage, said arm being pivotally mounted at one end on said carriage to move vertically into and out of engagement with said garment parts, said carriage being slidably mounted to reciprocate along said table to carry said arm between said assembly and said sewing station, first fluid means for raising and lowering said arm and second fluid means for moving said carriage, and fluid control means for cyclically operating said first and second fluid means including a firSt fluid valve switch operable on depression of said arm above said assembly station to simultaneously activate said first fluid means to maintain said arm depressed in contact with said garment parts and to activate said second fluid means to cause said carriage to carry said arm from said assembly station to said sewing station and a second fluid valve switch operable on the said arm reaching said sewing station to cause said first fluid means to raise said arm engaging said garment parts and cause said second fluid means to move said carriage to return said arm to said assembly station.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11 including first fluid means for operating said holding device at said sewing station, and a third switch valve operable on the reaching of said garment parts at the sewing station to cause said hold down device to grasp said garment parts.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 12 including a fourth fluid switch valve operable on the grasping of said garment parts by said holding means to initiate joining of said parts by sewing.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 11 including means for feeding a continuous stream of individual first parts to said assembly station, said feeding means comprising a channel for holding said first garment parts, a slide reciprocable with respect to said channel and a pusher mounted on said slide and pivotally movable into and out of contact with the stream of first garment parts, said feeding means including fluid means for operating said slide and pusher and a switch valve responsive to the movement of said transfer arm from said assembly station to said sewing station for activating said fluid means to cause said slide and pusher to move the leading one of said garment parts to said assembly station. 